The Washington Wizards broke out of their tanking ways against the Utah Jazz Wednesday. They snapped a 16-game losing streak with a dominant 133-110 win in Utah. Two of Washington’s rookies, Will Riley and Julian Reese, carried the load offensively with several key pieces sidelined.

2 Wizards Rookies Secure Double-Doubles In Big Win Over Jazz

With both teams missing their star players among several others, the game was a true tank battle. Both teams relied heavily on their young prospects throughout the evening. Eight of the nine active Wizards saw at least 20 minutes of action, while five of Utah’s players played at least 30 minutes. While there were strong performances on both sides, both Riley and Reese made an impact far beyond anyone else.

Will Riley

The 21st overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft has been on a tear since being given legitimate playing time, and he continued his March dominance against the Jazz. Will Riley made his 13th start for the Wizards this season, and in just 22 minutes, he secured the second double-double of his young NBA career.

Riley finished the game with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, while shooting 42.9% from the field. His performance adds another impressive outing to his March numbers. This month, Riley has averaged 14.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists across 13 games.

If Riley can continue his offensive production through the end of the season, he will have a serious case to make an All-Rookie Team. His numbers speak for themselves, and he could be considered the best rookie from the Wizards’ lineup this season.

Julian Reese

Coming into his first season, Julian Reese wasn’t known for much outside of his relationship to his sister, Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese. However, flash forward just six games into his NBA career, and Reese looks primed to become a major contributor to Washington’s bench moving forward.

The Maryland product made his fifth start in the absence of both Alex Sarr and Tristan Vukcevic, and he left the Delta Center with another career night. In 30 minutes of action, Reese scored 26 points and grabbed 17 rebounds along with a block and a steal. He shot 75% from the field on 16 shots and affirmed the notion that he owns the Jazz.

The big man also joined an elite franchise player with his outing. In the first half, Reese had 18 points and 10 rebounds, securing his double-double before the third quarter even began. That impressive line made him just the second Wizards rookie to have a double-double at halftime. The other player? Wizards legend John Wall, who had 11 points and 10 assists against Utah in January of 2011.

Historic Rookie Duo

Aside from Reese’s lone accomplishment, the rookie duo added to franchise history together. Riley and Reese became just the second pair of Wizards rookies to finish a game with double-doubles. The only other time that happened was also in 2011, when Wall and Jordan Crawford did so against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Last Word

Overall, these performances add to the impressive numbers that Riley and Reese have put up in March. They’ve proven to be massive contributors when needed, even if the team is actively trying to lose games. While they won’t be mainstream starters next season, both Riley and Reese will have command of the entire bench rotation.

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